Sen. Chuck Weaver (R-Peoria) and Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) have taken child health care under their wing. Working with Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) and Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) on children’s health care reform, the two GOP lawmakers kicked off the Children’s Health Caucus at a Wednesday press conference in Springfield.

Approximately 1.9 million Illinoisans – or about 15 percent of the state’s population – were on food stamp rolls in January 2017, according to a Prairie State Wire analysis of 66 Illinois welfare offices.